Carrion

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The dead and putrefying body or flesh of an animal; flesh so corrupted as to be unfit for food. They did eat the dead carrions. Spenser.

2. A contemptible or worthless person; -- a term of reproach. [Obs.] "Old feeble carrions." Shak.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion. A prey for carrion kites. Shak. Carrion beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead animals; -- also called sexton beetle and burying beetle. There are many kinds, belonging mostly to the family Silphidæ. -- Carrion buzzard (Zoöl.), a South American bird of several species and genera (as Ibycter, Milvago, and Polyborus), which act as scavengers. See Caracara. -- Carrion crow, the common European crow (Corvus corone) which feeds on carrion, insects, fruits, and seeds.